Things to Do in Pittsburgh - National Society of Black Engineers

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Pittsburgh, PA
National Society of Black Engineers • 38th Annual Convention
Pittsburgh, PA • March 28 – April 1, 2012
®
March 28 - April 1, 2011
THE�NSBE�BLUEPRINT
Leadership, Teamwork, & Inspiration
Designer: Keith L. Dean
Project : NSBE 2012 / Show Look
Event Location / Date : David L. Lawrence Convention Center / 8.27.11
The text, graphics, designs, logos, data compilations and
information (“Content”) contained in this Proposal are owned or
controlled by Freeman and are protected by United States and
Revised on 8.8.11
reproduction of the Content for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
things to do iN
Pittsburgh
By Tory N. Parrish
B
ringing the Annual Convention back for its third
showing in Pittsburgh made sense for a number
of reasons, NSBE officers say. The city also
hosted the 20th Annual Convention in 1994 and
the 32nd in 2006.
For one, science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) are as much a part of Pittsburgh’s history as are its
sports colors, black and yellow. Pennsylvania’s second-largest
city, it earned the nickname “The Steel City” in the mid-1800s,
because of its huge steel manufacturing industry. But over the
last 20 years, Pittsburgh has transformed itself, becoming a
major center for health care, technology and education. It’s
also “America’s Most Livable City” for the fourth straight year,
according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, which bases its
rankings on factors such as health care, culture, environment,
education and personal safety.
“There is always something to do here — always,” says
Travelius Harris, 26, president of NSBE’s Pittsburgh Alumni
Extension Chapter. Harris moved to the Pittsburgh area in
2008 to take a job as a senior field service engineer with
Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC.
Pittsburgh offers more than enough diverse social and
cultural options to make visitors feel right at home. It has the
largest history museum in Pennsylvania; a science center with
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nsbe magazine • convention 2012
the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition; an exciting
cultural district with many national and local shows; and distinct neighborhoods that offer everything from upscale dining
on trendy streets to shopping at quirky, inexpensive stores.
And, of course, sports reign. Black and yellow are sported
by three major professional sports teams: the Pittsburgh
Steelers football, Penguins hockey and Pirates baseball
teams.
Famous Pittsburghers include jazz musician George
Benson, philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie,
rapper Wiz Khalifa, retired NFL players Joe Montana and Joe
Namath, children’s TV show host Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s
Neighborhood,” artist Andy Warhol and playwright August
Wilson.
Pittsburgh also endeared itself to NSBE in another way in
2006, says “Brother E.D.,” NSBE Executive Director Carl B.
Mack. The host facility, the David L. Lawrence Convention
Center, honored NSBE’s request to award the catering contract
to a black-owned business, supporting the organization’s
mission of promoting cultural responsibility, Mack says. Also,
Pittsburgh’s leaders and media played a strong role in publicizing the event, he adds.
“Pittsburgh did a great job. They were the first city to show
us that type of response from the community,” Mack says.
www.nsbe.org
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Pittsburgh, PA
National Society of Black Engineers • 38th Annual Convention
Pittsburgh, PA • March 28 – April 1, 2012
®
March 28 - April 1, 2011
THE�NSBE�BLUEPRINT
Leadership, Teamwork, & Inspiration
Designer: Keith L. Dean
For the 8,500 attendees expected to be
in Pittsburgh for the convention this spring,
below are some suggested ways to turn
downtime into good times.
meat, french fries and cole slaw, between
two slices of Italian bread. Founded in the
early 1930s, the casual-dining eatery has a
Downtown location at 2 Market Square that
Project : NSBE 2012 / Show Look
Event Location / Date : David L. Lawrence Convention Center / 8.27.11
The text, graphics, designs, logos, data compilations and
information (“Content”) contained in this Proposal are owned or
controlled by Freeman and are protected by United States and
Revised on 8.8.11
reproduction of the Content for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
is open from 10 a.m. to midnight daily. (www.
primantibrothers.com)
Seviche is a mid-priced restaurant that
describes its fare as “neuvo Continued on page 44
The STEM Scene
Located on Pittsburgh’s North Side, next
to the Steelers’ home turf, Heinz Field, the
Carnegie Science Center attracts more than
700,000 visitors annually. The center includes
more than 400 interactive exhibits, laser
shows, the Buhl Digital Dome planetarium,
and roboworld, the world’s largest permanent
robotics exhibition.
The science center also features Highmark
SportsWorks, where visitors can scale a
25-foot wall, pedal a unicycle on a beam 25
feet above ground and test their fastball in
a pitching cage, among the 30 interactive
exhibits that demonstrate sports and the laws
of science.
Stop by the science center’s Buhl observatory on Friday or Saturday evening for the
SkyWatch. A 16-inch Meade LX200 SchmidtCassegrain telescope provides a detailed
view of clusters, nebulas and planets. (One
Allegheny Ave., www.carnegiesciencecenter.
org)
To learn about the impact that the
Pittsburgh area’s innovations have made
on the world, check out the Senator John
Heinz History Center, in the city’s Strip
District. “Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation”
— a two-story, 16,000-square-foot exhibit — includes more than 50 hands-on
activities and audio-visual displays related
to the region’s contributions to art, business,
education, sports, technology and science.
Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution,
the 275,000-square-foot history center is the
largest history museum in Pennsylvania. (1212
Smallman St., www.heinzhistorycenter.org)
Eateries
A city that is the birthplace of Heinz
Ketchup, the Clark Bar and the Klondike Bar
knows a thing or two about good grub.
To get a taste of Pittsburgh’s food history,
try world-famous Primanti Bros., known
for its sandwiches that include grilled
www.nsbe.org
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nsbe magazine • convention 2012
• 43
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Pittsburgh, PA
National Society of Black Engineers • 38th Annual Convention
Pittsburgh, PA • March 28 – April 1, 2012
®
March 28 - April 1, 2011
THE�NSBE�BLUEPRINT
Leadership, Teamwork, & Inspiration
Designer: Keith L. Dean
Project : NSBE 2012 / Show Look
Event Location / Date : David L. Lawrence Convention Center / 8.27.11
Continued from page 43
Revised on 8.8.11
The text, graphics, designs, logos, data compilations and
information (“Content”) contained in this Proposal are owned or
controlled by Freeman and are protected by United States and
reproduction of the Content for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
Latino.” The Downtown restaurant is open
from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through
Saturday and is closed Sunday.
“The ambience is nice. The tapas dishes are
great,” says Melanie Harrington, chief executive officer of Vibrant Pittsburgh, a nonprofit
organization that works to increase the diversity of the city’s work force. (930 Penn Ave.,
www.seviche.com)
If you’re looking for something upscale, try
Savoy, in the Strip District. Owned by former
Steelers player Charles “Chuck” Sanders,
the restaurant became a big draw as soon
as it opened in May. Serving contemporary
American dishes, the restaurant tends to attract a well-heeled, African-American clientele.
Savoy has a second-floor lounge and rooftop
deck. (2623 Penn Ave., www.savoypgh.com)
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
has an online database of Downtown
restaurants that can be searched by type,
price and hours of operation. The website also
has a printable PDF listing restaurants that
are open late nights and weekends. (www.
downtownpittsburgh.com/dining)
Sights, Shopping and
Nightlife
Station Square is a collection of night
clubs, such as Whim and Zen Social Club,
as well as restaurants, shops and tourist
attractions.
This landmark is near the entrance of two
popular sightseeing attractions: Pittsburgh’s
only remaining cable-car inclines. The
Duquesne Incline takes riders up 400 feet
to Mt. Washington, while the Monongahela
Incline takes riders up 368 feet. If you go,
take a camera. Mt. Washington provides
scenic views of Pittsburgh’s skyline. (125 West
Station Square Drive, www.stationsquare.com)
CJ’s, in the Strip District, offers karaoke
every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. This restaurant-club attracts a predominantly AfricanAmerican, mature clientele: patrons are
required to be at least 30 years old. No athletic
wear is allowed. (2911 Penn Ave., www.
cjsinthestrip.com)
Harris also recommends Little E’s, a jazz
and blues spot Downtown at 949 Liberty Ave.,
and the Shadow Lounge, at 5972 Baum in
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nsbe magazine • convention 2012
Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, as
nighttime spots with great live performances.
(www.littleesjazz.com, www.shadowlounge.
net)
East Carson Street on Pittsburgh’s South
Side is a hot spot for bar crawling among
college students and young professionals. Be
forewarned, as the area has reputation for
rowdiness at times.
Near that area is SouthSide Works,
a development with nationally known
restaurants and retailers, such as The
Cheesecake Factory, H&M, White House |
Black Market and SouthSide Works Cinema.
(located between 26th and Hot Metal streets,
www.southsideworks.com)
Other popular shopping destinations
include The Waterfront, a retail, restaurant
and residential development that sits along
the Monongahela River in Homestead.
The 22-movie AMC Loews Waterfront
and an Improv comedy club are also at
The Waterfront. (149 W. Bridge St., www.
waterfrontpgh.com)
Shadyside is another popular area with
upscale stores and homes, but most of the
businesses in this trendy neighborhood
are independently owned. The majority of
Shadyside’s restaurants and retailers are on
www.nsbe.org
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
38TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Pittsburgh, PA
National Society of Black Engineers • 38th Annual Convention
Pittsburgh, PA • March 28 – April 1, 2012
®
March 28 - April 1, 2011
THE�NSBE�BLUEPRINT
Leadership, Teamwork, & Inspiration
Designer: Keith L. Dean
Walnut Street, Ellsworth Avenue and South
Highland Avenue. (www.thinkshadyside.com)
Cultural Draws
Need a little culture in your life? Why not
start with the August Wilson Center for
African American Culture? Named after the
late Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, the center was finished in 2009. This landmark was
built to showcase and promote theatrical performances, dance, music, visual arts, literature
and education. A play set in rural Alabama in
the 1990s, “Every Tongue Confess,” will be
presented at the Wilson Center from March
30 to April 1. It focuses on a series of church
burnings that leads “townspeople to question
their lives, identities and journeys,” the center
says.
The Wilson Center is in the 14-block Cultural
District, which includes the convention center,
about 90 retail shops, 50 eateries, seven
theaters and a dozen art galleries.
To view a schedule of performances in the
district, click on “Tickets and Events” on the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s website, www.
trustarts.org.
Photography buffs won’t want to miss the
retrospective on Charles “Teenie” Harris at
the Carnegie Museum of Art. Harris was an
African-American photographer whose work
chronicled the black community during the
Jim Crow era and civil rights movement. He
worked for the Pittsburgh Courier, which was
once the country’s most widely circulated
black newspaper.
April 7 is the last day to see “Teenie Harris,
Photographer: An American Story” at the
museum, which is in Pittsburgh’s Oakland
neighborhood. (4400 Forbes Ave., web.cmoa.
org)
Project : NSBE 2012 / Show Look
Event Location / Date : David L. Lawrence Convention Center / 8.27.11
The text, graphics, designs, logos, data compilations and
information (“Content”) contained in this Proposal are owned or
controlled by Freeman and are protected by United States and
Revised on 8.8.11
reproduction of the Content for any purpose is strictly prohibited.
To search a more comprehensive list of
Pittsburgh-area attractions and events, go to
Tory N. Parrish is a reporter at the Pittsburgh
Visit Pittsburgh’s website, www.visitpittsburgh.
Tribune-Review. She writes about commerce
com.
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